Jehovah's Witnesses of the Watchtower False Prophecy - 1999
FULFILLMENT OF MATTHEW 24:14???
While Jehovah knew that there would be difficulties, he also knew that nothing would stop the work. Success was foretold in a well-known prophecy having a remarkable fulfillment in both the first and the 20th centuries: "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth." - Matthew 24:14.
The Watchtower proclaims that this verse was fulfilled in both the 1st and 20th centuries. They however only quoted a portion of the verse in question. The full verse reads as follows: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." In context, Jesus was answering the disciples question in verse 3 about the end of the age. Three great events are associated with the end of the age. The first great event will be the "great tribulation." Matthew 24:21 states: "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be." The second great event comes immediately after the "great tribulation" and it is the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars. Matthew 24:29 states: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." Finally, the third great event is the visible return of Jesus Christ to the earth. Matthew 24:30 states: "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." The Greek word for "coming" is erchomai which means to come, or accompany, or appear, or bring, or to enter.
The Watchtower proclaims that Matthew 24:14 was fulfilled in the 1st century by quoting two verses from Colossians. Colossians 1:6 states: which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth. Colossians 1:23 states: if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. However, the good news was never preached in the Americas at that time. Accordingly, Colossians 1:6 & 23 must be interpreted as being the "Roman" world and not used to define the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14. Scriptural support is found in Luke 2:1 that reads: "And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered." Did any civilization outside the "Roman" world such as China or the Americas obey Caesar? Of course not!
The 20th century is now past and the Watchtower has been proved a "false prophet" once again. Their "good news of the kingdom" has not been preached throughout the world. For example, outside of Hong Kong there are no Jehovah's Witness publishers in mainland China (1/1/2000 Watchtower) that has a population of over 1.2 billion people. Additionally, the "great tribulation" has not started, the heavenly lights have not been diminished simultaneously around the earth, and Jesus Christ has not visibly returned to the earth. The magnitude of these events can be summed up in Revelation 6:12 that states: Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. It is with little wonder that a true prophet of God stated: "Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!" (Amos 5:18)
I invite you to avoid the future wrath of God through faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Psalm 2:12 states: Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him .